Effect of Shenfu Injection on Differentiation of Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells into Pacemaker-Like Cells and Improvement of Pacing Function of Sinoatrial Node

Figure 4

Impacts of SFI-treated BMSCs on the sinoatrial node (SAN) tissue. (a) After establishing the rabbit model of sick sinus syndrome (SSS) with SAN dysfunction, green fluorescent protein- (GFP-) expressing BMSCs ( cells in 1 mL of PBS) were transplanted into the head, body, and tail of the SAN tissue. Photograph of the implantation procedure for transduced BMSCs. (b) The rabbits’ mean heart rate prior to and after SFI-treated BMSC transplantation. Data are expressed as the (SEM). bpm: beats per minute. . (c) Typical electrocardiogram (ECG) image of the sinus rhythm before and after the transplantation of SFI-treated BMSCs, and the middle ECG represents the electrogram of the SAN. A relatively small QRS and deep reversed P wave were observed in the ECG. (d) Tissue of the SAN. (e) Microscopic images of GFP-expressing BMSCs transplanted into the SAN tissue of rabbits with SSS. (f) TUNEL assay was performed to detect apoptosis of SAN cells. . Data are expressed as the . vs. sham; ^# vs. LV-NC. (g) Masson’s trichome staining was conducted to detect local fibrosis in the SAN tissue. The area of blue represented the fibrotic tissue. . Data are articulated as the . vs. sham; ^# vs. LV-NC. SFI-L: Shenfu injection-low dose (10 μL/mL); SFI-M: Shenfu injection-medium dose (20 μL/mL); SFI-H: Shenfu injection-high dose (40 μL/mL).

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

(e)

(f)

(g)